• A relatively busy calendar looms today, with German retail sales (0600 GMT) seen rising 0.4%m/m in March and unemployment (0755 GMT) falling 15k in April. Spain will be the first major euro area country to release Q1 GDP (0700 GMT), which is expected to rise 0.8%q/q. 
  
  
• Spain also releases April HICP inflation (0700 GMT), ahead of the euro area flash CPI estimate (0900 GMT). Yesterday's preliminary German CPI release lends support to the expectation for euro area annual inflation to climb out of negative territory (to 0.0%) for the first time since November. Core inflation (0900 GMT), which excludes food and energy, will also be closely watched for underlying price pressures. It is expected to be unchanged at 0.6%, kept down by significant spare capacity in the economy.
  
  
• For UK, the Lloyds Business Barometer will provide an early guide to broad economic activity at the start of Q2, ahead of next week's services PMI. The evening sees the final leaders' debate ahead of the Election on 7 May, with separate 30-minute slots for the three main UK party leaders on the BBC's Question Time programme. 
  
  
• In the US, the employment cost index (ECI) (1230 GMT) will be closely watched by the Fed as it is a broader measure of labor costs than the more timely monthly earnings release. Lloyds Bank looks for a 0.7%q/q rise in Q1.